Role of preoperative air-bone gap in tinnitus outcome after tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media with tinnitus

Abstract

The patients were divided into two groups based on preoperative bone conduction of less than 25dB (n=50) or more than 25dB (n=25). The postoperative improvement of tinnitus in both groups showed statistical significance. Patients whose preoperative air-bone-gap was less than 15dB showed no improvement in postoperative tinnitus using the visual analog scale (p=0.889) and the tinnitus handicap inventory (p=0.802). However, patients whose preoperative air-bone-gap was more than 15dB showed statistically significant improvement in postoperative tinnitus using the visual analog scale (p<0.01) and the tinnitus handicap inventory (p=0.016). Postoperative change in tinnitus showed significance compared with preoperative tinnitus using visual analog scale (p=0.006). However, the correlation between reduction in the visual analog scale score and air-bone-gap (p=0.202) or between reduction in tinnitus handicap inventory score and air-bone-gap (p=0.290) was not significant. We suggest that the preoperative air-bone-gap can be a predictor of tinnitus outcome after tympanoplasty in chronic otitis media with tinnitus.

Tinnitus and taste disturbances reported after myringoplasty: Data from a national quality registry

“…Previous reports, however small in sample size, indicate that myringoplasty can improve tinnitus . A few studies report the development of new or increased tinnitus as a complication after myringoplasty .…”

“…The subjective symptom of tinnitus is difficult to evaluate because the cause is multifactorial and its prevalence varies across populations from 7% to 25% . Tinnitus is associated with impaired hearing, increasing age, environmental noise exposure, and stress, among other factors …”

“…[19][20][21] Tinnitus is associated with impaired hearing, increasing age, environmental noise exposure, and stress, among other factors. 11,20,21 Previous reports, however small in sample size, indicate that myringoplasty can improve tinnitus. 11,14,15 A few studies report the development of new or increased tinnitus as a complication after myringoplasty.…”

“…However, due to its multifactorial genesis, it may be difficult to entirely relate the experience of tinnitus with a surgical procedure of the middle ear. Previous studies have described a decrease in tinnitus after middle ear surgery, whereas only a few have reported an onset or increase in tinnitus …”

“…9,10 However, due to its multifactorial genesis, it may be difficult to entirely relate the experience of tinnitus with a surgical procedure of the middle ear. Previous studies have described a decrease in tinnitus after middle ear surgery, [11][12][13][14][15] whereas only a few have reported an onset or increase in tinnitus. 12,13,15 Taste disturbances are another complication associated with surgical procedures on the TM due to manipulation of the chorda tympani nerve.…”